Results tagged ‘ Brian Wilson ’

When news broke Tuesday that Brian Wilson had signed had signed with the hated Los Angeles Dodgers, Twitter blew up with a mix of reaction from San Francisco Giants fans that ranged from “thanks for the memories” to “burn in Hell, you traitor.”

MoreSplashHits is convinced that if Wilson had signed with any other team, the reaction from Giants fans would have been almost universal “Thanks, and good luck.” But the Dodgers?

We finally heard from Wilson on Wednesday via post on gossip site TMZ.com.

Oh, and on a side note, is it odd to anyone else that this is the second time in the last few months that TMZ has been lucky enough to “catch” Wilson strolling down a public street? I mean, if there’s any place Wilson with his trademark beard could bleed into anonimity, it’s on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

Anywho, in the video (which can be viewed above), Wilson said: “I don’t worry about rivalry, bro. I just want to play baseball. You know, if there are 30 teams out there and 29 teams don’t want me, what am I going to do, say I’m not going to play baseball?”

He continued: “I’ve got much love for San Francisco. We had a good time. But there’s nothing I can do. They don’t want me back, so it’s all good.”

We get it. If you’re a free agent, you can choose where you want to play. And the Dodgers are an attractive destination. They are a contender. Wilson lives in Malibu. And the Dodgers have deep pockets.

Just don’t expect to get Buster Hugs from Giants fans. For the record, the Dodgers play three more games in San Francisco this season: on Sept. 24, 25 and 26 (Games No. 157, 158 and 159 of the season).

Wilson had a public tit-for-tat with the Giants last offseason when negotiations between the two parties broke down because the Giants didn’t offer him a guaranteed contract and Wilson felt the Giants owed him more — even though the Giants paid him more than $8 million in 2012 for two appearances.

Why wouldn’t you expect a guy like that wouldn’t go running to the free-spending Dodgers?

Giants CEO Larry Baer thanked Wilson for his service with the Giants, and added that Wilson signing with the Dodgers “doesn’t mean he’ll never be a Giant again. People go and come back.”

I’m sure Baer was speaking in broader terms, as in Giants who leave the Giants, then return later.

But if you’re talking about San Francisco Giants who left to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers then returned to the Giants, we could only find one example of that.

Jose Vizcaino, who started his career as a Dodgers in 1989-90 before being traded to the Cubs, was traded from the Indians to the Giants after the 1996 season. After the 1997 season, Vizcaino signed with the Dodgers and played there for two-plus seasons. Six years after leaving LA, Vizcaino re-signed with the Giants for the 2006 season. He hit .210 in 136 games that season before being released in August.

The former Giants closer reached a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, USA Today reported on Tuesday.

Wilson has not pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2012 after making just two appearances for the Giants in the 2012 season. Then he became grumpy when the Giants didn’t offer him a contract in the offseason for what would have cost the Giants more than $6 million.

Wilson vowed to be ready by spring training. But workouts last January showed that Wilson was still a long way off from being ready.

Then we lost sight of The Beard, until he showed up in San Francisco last week to throw for scouts that included the Giants.

But ultimately, Wilson, who lives in Malibu, decided to join Big Blue. Reports say Wilson could be called up to the big club in as soon as two weeks.

When that happens, Wilson will join a long and storied list of players who have played for the Giants and Dodgers.

But since Ned Colletti left the Giants to become the Dodgers general manager after the 2005 season, the outcome for players leaving the Giants and directly joining the Dodgers have not been good.

Consider …

BRETT TOMKO

Played for Giants in 2005, signed by Dodgers as free agent before 2006 season

With the Dodgers

2006 — 8-7, 4.73 ERA, 112.1 IP in 44 games, 15 starts

2007 — 2-11, 5.80 ERA, 104 IP in 33 games, 15 starts

DFA’d on Aug. 24, 2007

JASON SCHMIDT

Played for Giants in 2006, signed by Dodgers as free agent before 2007 season

With the Dodgers

2007 — 1-4, 6.31 ERA, 25.2 IP in 6 starts

2008 — Did not pitch, injured

2009 — 2-2, 5.60 ERA, 17.2 IP in 4 starts

Retired from baseball after 2009 season

MARK SWEENEY

Traded by Giants to Dodgers on Aug. 9, 2007

With the Dodgers

2007 — 0 HR, 3 RBI, .273 in 33 ABs in 30 games

2008 — 0 H, 5 RBI, .130 in 92 ABs in 98 games

Retired from baseball after 2008 season

EUGENIO VELEZ

Played with Giants in 2010, signed with Dodgers as free agent before 2011 season

With the Dodgers

2011 — 0 HR, 1 RBI, .000 in 34 games

Released after 2011 season

JUAN URIBE

Played with Giants in 2010, signed with Dodgers as free agent before 2011 season

GUILLERMO MOTA: There is not market for a 39-year-old reliever fresh off a season in which he served a 100-game suspension for a PED second strike. A third strike and he’s done. He may be done already.

FREDDY SANCHEZ: Sanchez hasn’t played a big-league game since separating his shoulder in June 2011. He said last month he’s not ready to retire, adding his “dream situation” would be to re-sign with the Giants. There is not indication of that happening, and he has not joined another club.

RYAN THERIOT: Theriot went into the offseason looking for increased playing time. That is what drew him to the Giants last offseason. He got that, but then lost it when the Giants traded for Marco Scutaro. Theriot was said to be talking with the Indians and Rangers, but that was three weeks ago.

BRAD PENNY: Penny made 31 starts for Detroit in 2011. After giving a Japan a try in early 2012, he signed with the Giants midseason, and served out of their pen in the final months of the season.

AUBREY HUFF: Huff may the most realistic of the bunch, telling the San Francisco Chronicle that he’s “pretty much retired.” He said he’s happy spending time with family instead of getting ready for another season. So the next time we might see Huff is to collect his World Series ring next month, although he said he has not received an invite from the Giants to do so.

And then there’s the erstwhile closer, Brian Wilson.

Back in the December, the Giants were faced with three choices regarding Wilson — offer him a contract of a minimum of $6.8 million, try to negotiate a deal at a much lower rater or non-tender him.

Well, it was obvious they wouldn’t do the first. When Wilson became offended by the Giants’ offer of a incentive-laden deal, they turned to option No. 3: a non-tender.

Then we heard from Wilson camp about the multitude of teams who were interested in his services, with no actual teams named.

Wilson threw for the Mets once in January and again in February, and the Mets determined Wilson wasn’t close to pitching again in the bigs.

Now, it’s March and the last time we saw Wilson came last week when TMZ posted a video of Wilson, looking scruffier than ever, doing some shopping in a ketchup-stained T-shirt. The person taking the video asked Wilson if he would ever shave his now infamous beard to sign with the Yankees, who have a no-facial-hair policy.

Most people around baseball are talking about how devastating it is for the Giants to lose closer Brian Wilson for the season.

But for those Giants fans who have watched Wilson over the past two seasons, we’ve seen something different.

In 2008, when the Giants turned over the closer job to a 26-year-old Wilson, he recorded 41 saves, and casual observers were impressed. But other numbers were less impressive: 4.62 ERA, 4.0 walks per 9 innings, 9.7 Ks per 9 and 1.44 WHIP.

Over the next two years, the numbers got better:

2009: 38 saves, 2.74 ERA, 3.4 BB per 9 IP, 10.3 K per 9 IP, 1.20 WHIP

2010: 48 saves, 1.81 ERA, 3.1 BB per 9 IP, 11.2 K per 9 IP, 1.18 WHIP

That’s what people remember, the 2010 Wilson who led the Giants in the NL West division title, NL championship and World Series title.

But then came the 2011 Brian Wilson:

3.11 ERA, 5.1 BB per 9 IP, 8.8 K per 9 IP, 1.47 WHIP.

One stat the was probably most discouraging: Between 2008-10, Wilson allowed between 13-18 percent of inherited runners to score.

In 2011, he allowed 46 percent.

Giants fans knew something wasn’t right with Wilson. The Giants knew that too. That’s why in the offseason they made moves to keep both Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt when conventional wisdom had it that they would keep one.

Then the Giants held Wilson back early in spring training, then later kept him out of major-league spring training games. Could it be they did that to hide him while he worked on adjustments and changed his pitching approach?

So, after watching those first two regular-season outings in Colorado, it was hardly a stunner to Giants fans that Wilson would be done for the year.

But moving forward, when the Giants look for a replacement to close games, what they need is someone who can replace the 2011 Wilson, not the 2010 Wilson.

The 2010 Wilson was long gone. The best the Giants could have hoped for Wilson in 2012 is a repeat of 2011.

Now that they turn to Santiago Casilla to close, they can hope for more.

Here are Casilla’s numbers since joining the Giants in 2010:

2010: 1.95 ERA, 4.2 BB per 9 IP, 9.1 K per 9 IP, 1.193 WHIP

2011: 1.74 ERA, 4.4 BB per 9 IP, 7.8 K per 9 IP, 1.123 WHIP

He converted 8 of 10 save opportunites in 2010-11, the bulk of which came late last season when Wilson went on the DL. He allowed 13 and 20 percent of inherited runners to score in the past two seasons.

Casilla’s numbers don’t measure up to Wilson’s in 2010. But they are MUCH better than Wilson in 2011.

So, the Giants will be just fine with Casilla as closer. Frankly, I feel better with Casilla going out there in the ninth than being forced to watch Wilson try to gut out three outs.

Now, I know there are some who will say pitching in the ninth is much different than pitching in seventh or eighth.

But I don’t agree. This is the Giants we’re talking about. Given their offensive struggles, they play in a high number of close games. And with their offensive problems, a run surrendered in the seventh or eighth is just as likely to cost the team a win as one given up in the ninth.

Giants relievers are well-versed in pitching under pressure.

On Tuesday, Casilla earned his first save of 2012, giving up just one hit — a bloop single by Juan Pierre — and no walks in his inning of work.

UP NEXT

It’s Matt Cain vs. Cliff Lee in the series finale between the Giants and Phillies at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The San Francisco Giants closer is likely headed for surgery on his right elbow after an MRI show structural damage and an issue with the ligament, the Associated Press reported.

FILE - In this July 10, 2011, file photo, San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson adjusts his neck during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in San Francisco. Wilson is likely headed for surgery on his right elbow after an MRI showed structural damage and an issue with the ligament, and his season could be in jeopardy. Manager Bruce Bochy and athletic trainer Dave Groeschner say the club will seek at least one other opinion and probably two, including from the renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performs Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgeries. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

While Saturday’s comes as a bit of a surprise, in another sense it doesn’t at all.

Wilson was handled very delicately all spring. He made a late start before appearing in a spring training game. Then spent the rest of spring training pitching in minor league games.

He made his regular-season debut on Wednesday in Colorado, giving up one run in a non-save situation.

He recorded his first save of the season Thursday in Colorado, when he pitched the ninth with a three-run lead. After giving up one run, Wilson left the bases loaded before recording the final out.

In that outing, manager Bruce Bochy and trainer Dave Groeschner came out to visit Wilson after the pitcher “tweaked his ankle.” He finished the inning out, even though he had clearly lost velocity on his pitches.

The Associated Press reported that the Giants will seek at least one other opinion, probably two, including renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Wilson, 30, reported discomfort in his elbow on Friday and was sent for tests. Translation: The pain from his “tweaked ankle” radiated all the way to his elbow by Friday.

Actual translation: Wilson never tweaked his ankle at all. Reporters after the game said Wilson did not ice his ankle after the game, and was seen walking with no noticeable limp and in flip-flops.

He was to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki on Saturday night.

In the short team, it means that Wilson will undoubtedly be placed on the disabled list, clearing a roster spot for Ryan Vogelsong who will be activated from the DL and make his first start on Sunday.

We’d expect Santiago Casilla to act as the Giants closer for now, but Sergio Romo could also be a candidate.

Look for the Giants to find closer candidates from within the current active roster before going to alternates in the minors, like Fresno closer Heath Hembree.

In the long term, Wilson is making $8.5 million in 2012, and 2013 is his final arbitration eligible season.

The Giants are heading home with a win, and a severe case of the Willies.

After Madison Bumgarner pitched 7 1/3 stellar innings, Brian Wilson recorded his first save of the year with a heavy dose of drama.

“It’s not like I want to pitch in that situation,” Wilson said. “But when I do, I feel like I’ve been more successful than not.”

I guess that’s true. But we’d gladly take a 1-2-3 inning.

Wilson’s ninth-inning adventure began with a double by Troy Tulowitzki followed by an infield single by Michael Cuddyer when Brandon Crawford smothered the ball but could not throw out Cuddyer.

Wilson threw a 94-mph fastball past Wilin Rosario for strike three and the first out.

Jason Giambi singled to right to load the bases, then Todd Helton smoked a liner right at Emmaunel Burriss for the second out.

Then on a 1-0 pitch to Tyler Colvin, Wilson turned his ankle. Trainer Dave Groeschner came out and Wilson threw a warmup pitch before declaring that he was fine.

“No big deal,” Wilson said. “It’s really nothing, just one of those things they have to check in — a non-issue.”

But radar gun said something different, as Wilson strained to get his fastball to reach 90 mph the rest of the inning.

He walked Colvin to make it 4-2. Marco Scutaro worked the count to 2-2 before flying out to Nate Schierholtz in right to end the game.

“It’s Willy’s way,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

Bochy added that, with Wilson throwing back-to-back days and laboring through a 32-pitch inning, that The Beard would likely not be used in Friday’s home opener against the Pirates.

In the end, the late drama almost overshadowed an outstanding effort from Bumgarner, who bounced back nicely from a rough opener last week in Arizona.

He gave up one run on four hits and two walks.

Even though the Giants score four runs for the sixth time in six games this season, it was pitching that supplied their two wins — first from Zito and Bumgarner.

“It’s our game,” Bochy said. “It’s what we count on. It means you have a chance to win the game.”

And the pitching as a whole should be better at home, as the Giants open a six-game homestead Friday.

“We’ve been on the road so much,” Bochy said. “The guys have dealt with it great. But it’s time to go home and get settled in our ballpark.”

OTHER NOTES

Melky Cabrera went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI as he continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .385.

After a slow start, Brandon Crawford is heating up. He went 2 for 4 with a double and run scored and now is hitting .261.

Two players who are not heating up: Angel Pagan (.130) and Ryan Theriot (.125). They may both be sitting on Friday (we can only hope).

UP NEXT

Matt Cain gets the call for the home opener against James McDonald and the Pirates at 1:30 p.m. Friday at AT&T Park. That is, if the game is played. Thunder storms rolled through the Bay Area Thursday night and Friday’s forecast calls for more and a 100 percent chance of rain.

We came pretty close on a predicted lineup Thursday, so we’ll take another shot at it for Friday. Our lone doubt is the leadoff spot and whether or not Bochy has the stones (or brains) to sit Pagan on the home opener.

The Giants hope that Freddy Sanchez will play his first game in the field on Friday.

Maybe.

Sanchez is slated to take infield practice on Thursday. If he shows manager Bruce Bochy what he wants to see, then Sanchez will play at second base Friday. If not, then he won’t.

And if he doesn’t play in the field Friday, it’s time to really start thinking about Sanchez missing opening day.

Sanchez even admitted Monday that it’s “getting late here.”

“The big thing is double plays,” Sanchez said. “I’m not getting as much on my throws as I should.”

RYAN VOGELSONG: The news was better on Vogelsong. He is scheduled to make his spring training debut on Saturday, when he’ll pitch one inning in the home split-squad game against the Rockies.

Bochy said the plan is to get Vogelsong up to five innings and 70 pitches by the end of spring training. But it’s a narrow window.

If Saturday is his first start, he would get two more starts before the start of the season on normal rest: March 29 vs. the Rangers and April 3 vs. the Athletics in Oakland. That would align him to make his first regular-season start on April 9 at Colorado.

Bochy said that Vogelsong will throw only one inning in the game because “he’ll be amped and we don’t want any setbacks.”

Translation: He’ll likely throw more in the bullpen after his one inning Saturday. He threw 40 pitches in a live BP session on Tuesday.

Still, it seems extremely tight. It would make more sense to use the April 10 off day to skip Vogey’s turn and have him open season on April 15 at home vs. Pirates.

BRIAN WILSON: The Giants said they are taking the foot off the accelerator on Wilson’s pitching schedule after The Beard reported mild arm soreness.

Wilson last pitched Saturday and had been throwing every three days. The Giants have pushed him back to Thursday.

He played catch Wednesday and looked fine, according to CSNBayArea.com’s Andrew Baggarly. Bochy said if it had been the regular season, Wilson would have pitched.

Wilson has hit 96 mph on the gun this spring, and Bochy called this normal spring soreness.

OK. But, still, hmmm.

BUSTER POSEY: Posey caught a spring-high six innings Tuesday and looked good when he pounced on a bunt attempt and threw out the batter at first.

The Giants won another spring training game, beating the Mariners to improve to 7-3. But the real story was the progress of Buster Posey and the return of Brian Wilson.

Posey made his second spring start, catching four innings and going 0 for 2.

“I felt good today and I was happy again with how my ankle felt,” Posey said.

Posey grounded out to short in the second and grounded out to third in third, both against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.

“I got ahead 2-0 in both at-bats,” he said. “I saw some good pitches in the first at-bat. Got a pretty good pitch 2-0, just rolled over it. I feel good at the plate … I feel like I’m seeing the ball well.”

Posey said the plan was to catch four more innings Tuesday against the Cubs, but manager Bruce Bochy would see how the catch feels Monday before finalizing Posey’s next appearance.

Wilson made his first spring appearance as the Giants take a cautious approach after The Beard’s elbow problems last season.

He was slated to throw between 20-25 pitches, but needed only nine to get through a scoreless fourth inning.

Wilson threw only fastballs and cutters, with his fastball clocked at 93-94 MPH.

When asked by a reporter to give a percentage of how hard he was running, Posey replied with a question of his own.

“How hard do you think I was running?” he asked with a smile.

When Chronicle reporter Henry Schulman said about 80 percent, Posey replied: “I guess Henry doesn’t think I have much left in the tank.”

All joking aside, Posey said he was running at about 60-70 percent effort after running on the outfield cut of the grass on Monday. He’s expected to run bases again Thursday.

“I’m happy I’ve been able to do baseball activities,” Posey said. “We knew from the time I was injured (last May) that bases would be the last thing to come. We’ve been lucky everything has gone smoothly as it has.”

Freddy Sanchez also is expected to make his spring debut Friday, as the designated hitter.

Sanchez, who had shoulder surgery last August, practiced throwing across his body from second base for the first time Wednesday. But the Giants will continue to take a conservative approach with him.

Both Posey and Sanchez hit live batting practice against Brian Wilson on Wednesday.

Wilson, who is coming off elbow troubles last year, declared himself ready to go.

“I’m totally ready ready, and now I have three days to prepare myself.”

Wilson will make his spring debut Sunday or Monday.

Good news for Giants reliever Runzler

The last thing Dan Runzler wanted to do this spring was take a flight to Florida to see Dr. James Andrews.

But the report from the doctor was good, and the left-hander could be back pitching in games by mid-to-late April.

Runzler took his lat muscle in the regular-season finale. He had been healthy this spring until he felt something grab in his shoulder during a bullpen session late last week.

But Andrews said that Runzler only aggravated the injury and would not require surgery.

“It definitely put my head at ease,” Runzler told CSNBayArea.com. “He compared the MRIs before and after and said it was just a small aggravation. It’s not like I re-did it. He was very optimistic.”

Runzler said he should be game ready in four to six weeks.

That will take him out of the running for the final bullpen spot, expected to go to Clay Hensley.

Runzler expects to open the season in extended spring training. Then, he’ll likely head to Fresno

The Giants received some encouraging news on some of their ailing or rehabbing stars. We may see all (or at least most) of the Giants in a spring training game by the end of the week.

BUSTER POSEY: Posey really wanted to be ready to for last Saturday’s spring opener. He was close, but the Giants took the conservative road and held him out. Manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that Posey worked on his running and sliding on Monday. He is scheduled to start running full speed on the bases Tuesday to make sure his surgically-repaired ankle can hold up to making turns on the bases. If everything goes well, Posey could make his spring debut as a DH on Friday against the Reds. Bochy said he could even catch an inning or two.

FREDDY SANCHEZ: The second baseman coming off shoulder surgery may have already been in games as a DH if he did suffer back spasms early last week. That spring debut could come Thursday or Friday for Sanchez. Bochy said he’s not ready to get Sanchez in the game as a second baseman, but he’s more willing to get his bat into game situations.

BRIAN WILSON: The Beard pronounced himself ready to go after throwing batting practice on Sunday. Bochy said Wilson will make his spring debut on Sunday, after throwing another BP session on Wednesday. Wilson is recovering from elbow inflammation that cost him most of the final two months of 2011.

DAN RUNZLER: Runzler was sent to see Dr. James Andrews for a consultation on his strained shoulder on Sunday. We haven’t heard anything since. And in this case, no news is bad news. A lat strain could sideline Runzler six weeks. He needed a strong spring to make the roster. That won’t happen now.

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